Japan booked their berth at next year's World Cup finals as Vahid Halilhodzic's side handed Australia a 2-0 defeat on Thursday evening that guarantees the Samurai Blue top spot in Group B of Asia's qualifying campaign for Russia 2018.

Takuma Asano gave the Japanese the lead four minutes before the half-time break when he was left unmarked to slide Yuto Nagatomo's cross beyond Mat Ryan to put Japan in front after Mathew Leckie had earlier hit the post for the Socceroos.

Japan

Australia

2

0

FT

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Wellington Phoenix have signed former Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC star Ali Abbas for a return to the A-League.

The Iraq international's two-season deal completes the Phoenix's squad under new coach Darije Kalezic.

The 30-year-old Abbas already boasts 128 A-League games, having played three seasons with the Jets followed by four at Sydney FC before one-season with South Korean outfit Pohang Steelers.

Abbas, an Australian citizen, was pleased to put his disappointing Korean stint, where he barely...

On the 10th anniversary of Iraq's shock 2007 AFC Asian Cup triumph, then-coach Jorvan Vieira says tea drinking, and sleepless nights of checking on his players, were the keys to the football success of a war-torn nation.

Iraq stunned Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final, having beaten South Korea on penalties in the semifinals, and Vietnam in the quarterfinals.

In the group stage, they upset Australia 3-1 and drew with co-hosts Thailand and Oman.

"The secret was not to sleep. Even early in the morning,...

The progress of Japan to the World Cup finals hit a roadblock on Tuesday evening as a second-half goal from Mahdi Kamil earned Iraq a 1-1 draw that leaves Vahid Halilhodzic's side in an ever-tightening battle for an automatic berth at Russia 2018.

Yuya Osako scored eight minutes into the game in Tehran to put the Japanese ahead. But Mahdi's goal for the already-eliminated Iraqis complicates Japan's road to the finals.

Iraq

Japan

1

1

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The four-time Asian champions are now just one point clear of Saudi Arabia...